Bottoms Up

Texas distillery's limited-edition whiskey toasts Hill Country legend

Raise a glass to the greats.

Photo courtesy of Balcones Distilling

One Texas icon is paying homage to another with the newest limited-edition whiskey from Balcones Distilling.

Luckenbach Texas Whisky is the latest release in Balcones' Texas Originals Series, which combines one-of-a-kind flavors and ingredients, all from the Lone Star State. The first whiskey is this series was made in partnership with Spoetzl Brewery.

Made from Texas-grown and malted barley, the whiskey is aged at least 36 months and then finished in dessert wine casks, courtesy of William Chris Vineyards in Hye, Texas, right down the road from the world-famous Luckenbach bar and dance hall.

"Luckenbach is a living legend throughout Texas and beyond," says Balcones head distiller Jared Himstedt in a release. "We're thrilled to create a whiskey that is the true definition of Texas-made, featuring Texas-grown ingredients and flavors. We can’t wait to share Luckenbach Texas Whisky with Texans near and far."

Nestled deep in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, Luckenbach was established in 1849 and is known around the world as "the center of the universe." It regularly hosts top country music artists such as Willie Nelson, in addition to local up-and-comers.

The single-malt whiskey starts with an oily and inviting nose, with big, rich notes of orange cinnamon rolls, cardamom, rosewater, and oiled leather. The sweet palate unfolds with expressive notes of blood orange pound cake, peach cobbler, and orange blossom honey that are balanced by a zippy, acidic finish, showcasing more citrus zest, bergamot, toasted coconut, and soft cinnamon.

"At Luckenbach, history and music are served daily, so it’s only natural that we celebrate our Texas roots with The Original Texas Whisky," says Luckenbach Texas, Inc. president Kit Patterson. "Luckenbach Texas Whisky embodies the authentic and rich heritage of Balcones and Luckenbach, made by people who aren’t bound by what has already been done, but pride themselves on creating an expression that is unique, personal, and loved for all the right reasons. We invite everyone to grab a chair and pour up a glass of this incredible whiskey."

Luckenbach Texas Whisky retails for $59.99 and is available for purchase only at Balcones Distillery in Waco for a limited time.

cocktails hill-country

san antonio's culinary stars

5 outstanding San Antonio eateries land on first OpenTable Icons list

Photo by Robert Lerma

Nic

There's no denying San Antonio is full of high quality restaurants and talented chefs, and now five local restaurants are earning new recognition in OpenTable's inaugural San Antonio Icons list.

The OpenTable Icons lists, which first launched in July 2024, highlight local eateries in 25 cities across the U.S. and Canada, from award-winners to trendy hotspots and all types of cuisine. Chosen restaurants must have recently earned Michelin stars, James Beard Awards or nominations, positive reviews from diners and critics, and more.

The newly released San Antonio list is a combination of fine dining establishments and international culinary experiences mostly located in downtown or North Central San Antonio. While no one cuisine dominated the list, two out of the five restaurants –Clementine and Biga on the Banks – focus on contemporary American dishes.

The list also includes one 20-seat dessert bar, Nicosi, which opened in June 2024. This unique establishment takes a hard stance against the modern practice of constant social media sharing with its no-phones-allowed policy, allowing guests to place their full focus on the experience unfolding in front of them.

"In a sleek space with velvet curtains and 20 seats overlooking an open kitchen, chefs Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Karla Espinosa whip up an artful, eight-course dessert menu that’s one of the city’s most singular dining experiences," OpenTable's editors wrote.

Here is the full list of San Antonio Icons:

Best Quality Daughter, an Asian-American restaurant in the Pearl District
Cured, a gastropub-style restaurant in the Pearl District
Biga on the Banks, a contemporary American restaurant on the River Walk
Nicosi, an omakase-style dessert bar in the Pearl District
Clementine, a contemporary American restaurant in North Central San Antonio

San Antonio foodies will recognize longstanding local staples like Biga on the Banks, which has been mastering the art of new American fine dining in the Alamo City for more than 30 years. OpenTable praised the restaurant for its fresh fish offerings, an "eclectic" wine list, and more.

"When he opened Biga in 1991, London-born chef Bruce Auden kicked off a new era of fine dining in San Antonio, amassing a huge celebrity following (Julia Child, Emeril Lagasse) and racking up several James Beard nominations," OpenTable's editors wrote. "In 2000, the restaurant moved to a bigger space with sweeping Riverwalk views, the perfect setting for Auden’s ever-changing global menu with Texas accents — think spiced antelope and quail, habañero jerk scallops, and za’atar roasted cauliflower."

Pioneering establishments like Best Quality Daughter – whose head chef and owner Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin was nominated for CultureMap's 2024 Chef of the Year – also rightfully made the list.

"Dobbertin unabashedly combines Asian and global flavors in unique dishes like salt and pepper shrimp with Thai chimichurri or rice chips with mapo hummus, resulting in this singular restaurant in the historic Mueller House that is so very San Antonio," the editors wrote.

More information about OpenTable's San Antonio Icons list can be found on OpenTable. Texas travelers can also find OpenTable icons in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

restaurants awards san antonio